Pete Hershel knew the knock was coming, expected it, but he still almost jumped out of his wrinkled old skin when it happened. He looked over his shoulder at Zack Meadows and saw the maniacal look in the evil man’s eyes. There was no doubt in his mind, not even a little one, that the man would shoot him if he didn’t do what he had been told to do. He realized then he wasn’t ready to die to go be with Dolly. Not yet anyway. He still had things to do, like getting a dog or a cat, and there were still places to go on his bucket list. Which of them to go to first would be determined at some future point.

Hershel opened the door to see Jack, Harry, and Dennis. “Well, hello there, young fellas. What can I do for you today?”

“We’re checking on all the tenants, Mr. Hershel,” Dennis said. “Are you doing okay? You weren’t on the porch yesterday. That’s what it says on your wellness chart.”

“Is that why you’re here!” Hershel said, putting as much surprise into his tone as he could. “It was the rain. Sometimes it gets my lumbago and lays me low, and other times it doesn’t bother me. Yesterday was one of those days, so I just stayed in with a heating pad on my back.” And then a brilliant idea hit him smack between the eyes. “Add my lumbago to maybe some food poisoning from some sushi, and here I am.”

“What’s lumbago?” Harry asked, his brow furrowed at the strange word.

Anything to stall. “Well, it’s like this, young fella. Old-timers like me say we got lumbago. The ladies of a certain age refer to it as rheumatism and you young’uns today probably say arthritis. Lower back pain, hip joint pain, it’s not a good thing no matter what you call it.” Hershel made his voice sound as jovial as he could.

“Oh,” was all Harry could think of to say.

Not so Jack. For some reason, the old codger’s words weren’t ringing true to his ears. “So, you’re feeling better today, then? You should be sitting on your porch enjoying the birds singing and the warm sunshine if you are. My wife would say just eat toast and drink hot tea, and rest.”

“Yes, yes, my wife used to say the same thing. I might give that a try. Is there anything else?” Hershel asked hopefully. He rolled his eyes, hoping that would clue the young man into asking more questions.

“You sure you’re all right, Mr. Hershel?” Dennis asked. He gave Jack a look that said I’m picking up on the same thing you are.